A systematic assessment procedure designed to increase success at buying supportable software is presented. Examples used are from programs for the IBM PC, but most comments apply to other software and to software for minicomputers and mainframes. (MLW)

Designed to complement the manual, "Evaluation of Educational Software: A Guide to Guides," which provides an overview of 10 different models of microcomputer courseware evaluation instruments, this 5-section workshop guide outlines an approach to using the evaluation materials in a hands-on workshop setting. Session notes, reproducible…

Discusses steps educators should work through when reviewing educational software, e.g., role playing intended users, analyzing instructional approach, identifying inaccuracies, using software and giving incorrect responses to see how software responds, and assessing the software's human values criteria. An educational software review form is…

Guidelines for selecting good educational software are presented and based on general principles that are relevant to a wide variety of teaching programs, topics, students, and computer systems. (MP)

Presents guidelines for selecting equitable electronic materials such as computer software, CD-ROMs, and websites that a school either has in its possession or makes available to students through the Internet. (ASK)

Research on the use of computers with young handicapped children is summarized. Much of the literature on the topic, it is noted, is speculative; few students are technically sound. Findings are briefly reviewed in terms of the amount of time spent using the computer, social and free play choices, software selection preferences, amount of teacher…

The L&J Software Analysis Checklist II was designed to assess the therapeutic value of software for educational and clinical utilization. Its three sections focus on program specifics, skill area components (such as sensory motor, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial and life skills), and other information. Each of the skill area components is…

Presents the following steps for software evaluation: examine course objectives, study software reviews, make arrangements to preview the software packages that appear best to meet the needs of the course, develop or obtain a software evaluation guide, read documentation, complete evaluation guides, and make the selection based on the above…

Points out that although there are thousands of software programs available to support educational applications, there is a paucity of suitable courseware. An in-place system for proper evaluation of courseware that, to date, has "approved" more than 200 computer-assisted instructional programs is described. (JN)

Intended for administrators and policy makers as well as teachers, this digest offers selection strategies for consumers of English/language arts computer software. Following the introduction, the digest discusses initial considerations when evaluating software, including examining both the accompanying documentation and the actual program. It…

The paper is intended to help rehabilitation professionals use computer hardware and software in serving their clients and improving their professional associations and practices. Four types of computer applications are addressed (examples in parentheses): (1) assistive devices (environmental control systems, writing devices); (2) software to help…

The workshop paper examines the use of microcomputer packages to analyze spontaneous language samples of children with communication disorders. Advantages of computerized analysis are seen to include time saving, more efficient data management, and increased objectivity. To help consumers determine which programs to buy, four aspects are…

Computer Assisted Practical Evaluation (CAPE) is a FORTRAN computer program which students use to verify answers obtained from experimental data. Generally, whenever an incorrect answer is supplied, students are asked to redo calculations and submit a revised value. Advantages and use of the program with chemistry classes are described. (JN)

Alternatives to the normal detail bid specifications usually required for public institutions of higher education to purchase computer software are examined. It is suggested that the request for proposal method described offers the consumer a better understanding of individual software vendors' products. (Author/SF)

More than 10,000 instructional software packages have been published for elementary and secondary schools--thousands in each discipline. Unfortunately, not all sources of courseware evaluations are equally reliable; therefore, it is important to determine that evaluations include: (1) critical appraisal of content accuracy; (2) in-depth…